This workshop focuses on how the physical act of writing can bring us back to an embodied experience of self.
 
Whether rooted in preconceptions about what writing is or anxiety the actual process provokes, writing is often associated with disengagement from the body: a lofty, intellectual pursuit which requires leaving ourselves behind. But the process can actually be one of great engagement and presence. It can wake up to our full experience of ourselves and surroundings, and provide a pathway for connecting with our bodies and our own capacity to comprehend our feelings. This workshop will hold space for engagement, awareness, and inquiry into both the physical experience of writing and your relationship with your body.
 
In the first part of the workshop I will situate intersections between writing, illness, and embodiment I work with, as well as introduce two techniques which involve mindfulness and writing. In the second part of the workshop, I will invite you to respond to creative prompts exploring your knowledge about and experiences with (and within) your body, including experiences with illness and physical dis-ease, things you’ve been told about your body, and/or impactful and embodied memories whose story you long to tell:
 
What stories live inside our bodies? What have we been told about our bodies, and what do we know to be true about them (whether or not that’s ever been acknowledged)? What is the full complexity of our experiences (embodied and otherwise), and what would we like to say about them?
 
 
This workshop is open to all "levels"-- those new to creative writing seeking foundational tools, and experienced writers interested in intersections of writing and the body (or who are seeking a grounding "tune-up").